10 Choices That Lead to a Happy, Fulfilling Life

“Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.” ~Aeschylus

My twenty-sixth birthday was approaching, and I asked myself one question: “Do I want this year to look like the last one?”

The answer was an immediate and very solid no. I frantically began to analyze what I was doing with my life to get this reaction. I was unhappy for most of twenty-five, romantically, professionally, and socially.

I had been with my live-in boyfriend for about a year and a half, and there seemed to be a growing disconnect. Despite the lies, resulting in jealousy and insecurity, I stayed with him because it was what I knew. I was comfortably uncomfortable.

I justified staying by telling myself, “All relationships take work” and “I know he can change.” I had also become a bit of a hermit with him. Netflix marathons every weekend. My social calendar eventually became booked with Don Draper and Piper Chapman.

Professionally, I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. As a millennial, I can say we carry a certain grandiose expectation for a picturesque life that we expect to have at a very young age, and we thoroughly believe it's going to happen. Right up until the time when it doesn't.

Stuck and confused, I realized that if I changed nothing, the next year was destined to look like the prior one.

I was in search of my truth and my happiness. I needed to know what this life thing is all about. Why do some people seem to have it all figured out and I'm left worried and more confused than ever before?

I had some money saved up, so I broke up with my boyfriend, moved out, bought a plane ticket, and left to travel Asia in a timeframe of a whopping two days. I had nothing to lose. I was on a mission to learn how to live a meaningful and happy life.

After a few months of trekking unfamiliar mountains, living with monks, and being freshly single, this is what I've learned.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff; don't sweat the big stuff.

I learned this after I had my wallet, passport, and camera stolen. Every day you will be faced with challenges that are both in and out of your control. Either way, there’s no sense in worrying about them.

If the situation is uncontrollable, whatever is going to happen, will. If you can control it, then take a deep breath and face it with a calm mind to make the process much easier. Worrying gets you nowhere. Hakuna Matata.

2. Do something every day that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Order and routine give us a sense of security. It feels nice to have familiarity, but it's also hard to grow into the person you're meant to be without pushing your limits and trying new things.

At one point, everything is new to us. The more experiences you expose yourself to, the higher probability you'll find one your passionate about.

3. Live fully in each moment.

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. The only certain thing we have in life is right now, this very moment.

This is an important lesson I've learned when meditating with the monks throughout Thailand. They teach the significance of remaining mindful and the importance of acknowledging our senses.

By smelling, tasting, feeling, seeing, and hearing everything in our surroundings, we're able to stay in the present, resulting in insight, a crucial stepping stone on the path to happiness. Life is incredibly beautiful when you slow down enough to enjoy it. Live in the moment, live for right now. This very moment is life.

4. Give gratitude any chance you can, and lots of it.

I really learned about gratitude when traveling through Indonesia. When once I would have complained about a bad Wi-Fi connection, I saw people just grateful for clean drinking water. It really puts things into perspective.

Take the time to remember how lucky you are. Even if it doesn't feel this way, it could always be worse. Share love and gratitude every chance you can, and you're left with an overwhelming feeling of abundance and happiness.

5. Remember, life is what's happening while you're busy on your cell phone.

Dining solo, I was left to master the art of people watching. What I observed was this: the happiest, loudest, and liveliest tables were those with cellphones tucked away. They were making memories and sharing stories and experiencing what life is all about.

They ate more slowly and stayed longer because there wasn't anywhere they'd rather be. On the contrary, those with eyes glued to bright screens were quiet and quick to eat with emotionless expressions.

Next time you're out, try leaving your phone in the car to thoroughly enjoy your company. If you can't imagine a meal without technology, at least take a few moments to observe the difference between people on their phones and those who aren't, and ask yourself, who's table would you rather be sitting at?

6. Listen to your gut.

I've never been so in tune with myself as when I was on the road with no travel companion to interrupt my thoughts. There have been countless times when I've gotten myself out of sticky situations (or avoided them altogether) by listening to my “gut feeling” as a reliable and trustworthy source.

Silence the mind and listen to the body. Our gut is widely acknowledged as our second brain. If it feels wrong and you can't exactly pinpoint why, it's your intuition in physical form telling you it probably is. Listen to what it has to say.

7. Look for similarities.

Same same. In Bangkok, I probably heard this phrase nine thousand times, which inevitably led me to ponder its significance.

No matter where you go in the world, as different as we appear, we are much more similar to one another. We all have human emotions. Sadness and excitement are genetically programmed in us, and we all have the same end goal of happiness.

A smile and laughter are universal. When you meet someone new, look for similarities and it will form an intimate bond. You'll begin to feel compassion and a connection to them. A feeling of connection gives you a sense of home no matter where you are.

8. Let go of the fear of not being accepted and let your true self come out.

Living abroad alone, I really embraced my inner weirdo. I laid out all the things I was hesitant to say and do before because I assumed no one would “get” me. The results? Confidence and self-respect.

You owe it to yourself to celebrate your uniqueness and be the truest version of you. Those who are meant to stick around will love you even more for it. Besides, weird people bring a lot to the table. Just saying.

9. Make time to reflect on relationships and make changes.

Being on a twelve-hour time difference and half a world away makes communication to home difficult, and perfect for relationship reflection. I really began to analyze the quality of my relationships, asking, “Do they feed my soul? Do we really have that much in common?”

Life is too short to spend time with anyone who exhausts you. Be selective with where your energy goes. For those who you decide to keep in your life, it's important you show them how much they mean to you. Love and respect leads to quality relationships, which are the only ones worth having.

10. Know that no matter how far you travel in search of happiness, it can only be found in one place.

A monk at the Wat Mahathat in Bangkok said something I will never forget. “Why are you here in Thailand? To find happiness? You won't find it here. I can't give it to you. You can travel the world to find it, but there is only one place it can be found. It is found within.”

True and lasting peace is found within. When you learn to be appreciative for what you have, embrace the present moment, and love fully, this is happiness. This is nirvana.

Leigh has spent months traveling around the world on a journey to self-discovery. She's lived with monks, trekked mountains, made lifelong friends, and somewhere along the way, has built an incredible relationship with herself. She plans to share her personal story with fellow soul-searchers. She's passionate about meditation, the window seat, and 90's rap.

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Wow ! Absolutely amazing article. Experience – The great master. You are writing this article after so much experience. By reading this article , its our turn to practically apply in our life and experience a happy , fulfilling life. Thanks a lot for sharing your work with the world.
Thanks a lot to Lori Deschene for running this wonderful site. THANKS A LOT TO Siddhartha Gauthama Buddhar.

Thanks for writing that article. I had the same idea as to how I would want my life to be. Unfortunately life gives us what it wants. You can set your goal and work hard and yet never attain it so be prepared to be disappointed or accept life as it comes. I learnt it the hard way.

Lindsay

Thank you for sharing your insights. Really enjoyed number 10. Also, I have a friend going through a tough relationship and I shared number 9 with her.

John Deever

You don’t have small children, do you. I am glad you’re having some broad experiences in your twenties, that’s a good thing; however, I’m not sure you really understand as much about life as you believe you do. Perhaps it’s mean of me to be so condescending — I could just keep my not-so-nice opinions to myself. However, I will use my somewhat rude comment here to urge you to continue your exploring and maturing your actions designed to make the world better. Good luck.

Peace Within

Thanks for sharing. These are great reminders.

Talya Price

Very helpful. I need to read this today. I am recovering from my depression. And this was very helpful, thank you for this.

MsMaeDae

this was wonderful!

Thank you!
<3

whatevr_somethong

Its a contradictory article

“Life is too short to spend time with anyone who exhausts you. Be selective with where your energy goes.”

and then Im supposed to make peace with “You can travel the world to find it, but there is only one place it can be found. It is found within.”

If so is the route around the probs we are facing, then whats the need for these whole 10 pointers, just find happiness within and he happy.

ashley

great article. thank you.

John Smith

if a person lives 80 years, that means he/she was sleeping 25 years of it. Summary is life is short and make most of it than being lazy.

Ayesha

I can so resonate with the experience of the writer

J

Wow! This was a great read… Needed it today! Thanks

Daniel

Number 8 is very helpful.

I start to realise that I suffer(ed) from severe depression for a decade or so and I am so grateful to see, that I am not the only one who struggles. And that other people actually made it to step out of this “cage”.

Thank you for this piece. It was touching and a great reminder. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget these things and get lost in the hustle and bustle of every day life, despite the promises you make to yourself.

Crystal Desilva

I am late to the party as this article is old but none the less thank you to the writer, it was insightful and even sparked something in this 31 year old mind of mine to do something to change my own happiness.

Alucard Morgurth

This is nice, I’m about to start living my life in a different way and I needed this.

Kajal Prasad

A good reminder of finding and connecting and embracing ourselves. I hope everyone finds the weird combination of who they are and find their happiness.

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